Rhinebeck school bus drivers go on strike again

By WILLIAM J. KEMBLE

Thursday, May 9, 2013

RHINEBECK, N.Y. -- Unionized bus drivers struck Durham School Services on Thursday for the second time in less than a month, and a Teamsters representative said the union will continue to use the element of surprise as a bargaining tool amid its current contract dispute.

Teamsters Local 445 Business Agent Lori Polesel said, however, that walkouts like Thursday's will be announced early enough in the day -- before 6 a.m. -- for school district officials to notify parents that alternate transportation is needed.

Thursday's walkout and the one on April 25 left the Rhinebeck and Spackenkill school districts and Dutchess County BOCES, all of which use Durham, without bus service. And Polesel vowed that "there will be unrest until the company addresses our issues."

Contract negotiations between Durham and its unionized drivers have been stalled since last fall, largely over pay rates.

The April 25 strike was a one-day action. There was no word Thursday afternoon on whether the current strike will be longer,

Polesel said Local 445, which has about 165 members, is confident that school district officials can respond quickly when informed a job action is planned.

"I think this district (Rhinebeck) has called parents to let them know that they're to be ready and available to bring their children to school," she said.

Rhinebeck has used Durham for student transportation since 2005 and currently pays the company $4,146 per day. The district is allowed to penalized the company $250 per day, plus the cost of hiring another company and legal fees, in the event of a strike.